Antonina Uccello facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Antonina Uccello
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| Hartford City Council | |
| In office 1963–1967 |
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| Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut | |
| In office December 5, 1967 – April 12, 1971 |
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| Preceded by | George B. Kinsella |
| Succeeded by | George A. Athanson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 22, 1922 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | March 14, 2023 (aged 100) Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Occupation | Politician |
Antonina P. Uccello (born May 19, 1922 – died March 14, 2023) was an important American politician. She was the first Italian-American woman to become a mayor in the United States. From 1967 to 1971, she served as the Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut. She was also the first woman mayor in Connecticut's history.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ann Uccello was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on May 19, 1922. Her parents came from a town called Canicattini Bagni in Sicily, Italy. She was one of five sisters in her family.
Ann went to the University of St. Joseph for her college degree. She also studied law at Trinity College and the University of Connecticut. She was always keen on learning.
Ann Uccello's Career
Ann Uccello began her career as a teacher in 1944. Later, in 1946, she started working at a department store called G. Fox & Co. in Hartford. She worked her way up to become an executive assistant to the owner.
Entering Politics
In 1963, Ann decided she wanted to run for the Hartford City Council. Her boss at the department store gave her permission to run. This was because the council meetings were held on Mondays, which was a day the store was closed.
She won the election and served two terms on the city council. This experience prepared her for an even bigger role.
Becoming Mayor
In 1967, Ann Uccello was elected Mayor of Hartford. This was a very important moment. She became the first woman mayor in the entire state of Connecticut.
She ran as a Republican in a city where most people supported the Democratic Party. Despite this, she won and remains the last Republican mayor of Hartford to this day.
Working in Washington D.C.
Ann was re-elected as mayor in 1969. After that, President Richard Nixon asked her to come to Washington D.C. She joined the U.S. Department of Transportation. She continued to work there under Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.
Later Life and Legacy
After leaving public service in 1978, Ann Uccello continued to help her community. She joined the boards of several private and public organizations. She also worked in her family's insurance business.
Ann Uccello lived a long life, turning 100 years old in May 2022. She passed away on March 14, 2023, from natural causes.
Honours and Recognition
Ann Uccello received many awards and honors for her work.
- In 1971, she was knighted as a "Cavaliere della Repubblica" by the Italian ambassador in the USA. This means she received the Order_of_Merit_of_the_Italian_Republic.
- In 1999, she was recognized for her achievements and inducted into the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame.
- In September 2008, Ann Street in Hartford was renamed in her honor.
- In July 2016, a street in Canicattini Bagni, Italy, the town where her parents were from, was also named after her.
Images for kids
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Sign for street named in honor of Ann Uccello in Canicattini Bagni, Italy, July 4, 2016.
See also
In Spanish: Antonina Uccello para niños
